Introduction to the CohortThe Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) is a prospective longitudinal cohort study that began in 1958 and continues today. Over 3,100 participants were followed since the inception of the study, and currently, over 1,300 individuals are followed. Participants must be healthy individuals of at least 20 years old. Participants were recruited through the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Aging. At the inception of the study, enrollment of the study was limited to only men; enrollment of women for the study began in 1978. Currently, participants under the age of 60 are followed-up and assessed every 4 years; participants aged 60-79 years are assessed every 2 years; and participants aged 80 and older are assessed annually.

Ethnicity BreakdownApproximately 96% of the cohort members were white.

Tucker KL, Hallfrisch J, Qiao N, et al. The combination of High Fruit and Vegetable and Low Saturated Fat Intakes Is More Protective Against Mortality in Aging Men than Is Either Alone: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Journal of Nutrition 2005;135(3): 556-561.